If you sell products online through Shopify, Etsy, or WooCommerce, you’ve probably come across the term UPC barcode. Whether you’re launching a new product or scaling an existing brand, getting your barcodes right is essential for keeping your store organized and your listings compliant across sales channels.

In this guide, we’ll explain:

What UPCs are
Why you need them for Shopify, Etsy, and WooCommerce
And how to quickly get valid UPCs from UPCs.com—the easiest and most affordable place to buy barcodes online

What Is a UPC Barcode?

A UPC (Universal Product Code) is a 12-digit number used to uniquely identify a product in North American retail and online marketplaces. You’ll find it printed beneath the barcode image on product packaging, and it’s what gets scanned in stores, warehouses, and fulfillment centers.

Each unique product (and variation) needs its own UPC. For example:

A t-shirt in 3 sizes = 3 UPCs
A candle available in 4 scents = 4 UPCs
A 2-pack and a 6-pack of the same item = 2 UPCs

If you’re not sure whether each variation needs its own barcode, check out our full article:
👉 Do I Need a New Barcode for Every Product Variation?

Why You Need UPCs for Shopify, Etsy, and WooCommerce

Even if you’re just selling on your own store today, having valid UPCs future-proofs your catalog and makes it easier to expand to marketplaces like Amazon, Walmart, eBay, and Google Shopping.

Here’s a breakdown by platform:

✅ Shopify

Shopify includes a dedicated field for barcodes (also called GTINs) in each product listing. Barcodes are used to:

Track inventory
Sync with point-of-sale (POS) systems
Enable product listing on Google Shopping, Amazon, Facebook, and more

Using UPCs with Shopify also allows for smoother app integrations and multi-channel inventory management.

✅ Etsy

Etsy doesn’t require UPCs by default, but sellers who use third-party inventory tools or sell across multiple platforms benefit from assigning UPCs to keep everything in sync. If you’re moving from hobby selling to serious ecommerce, it’s smart to get ahead of this.

✅ WooCommerce

WooCommerce sellers benefit from UPCs when:

Using inventory plugins
Syncing to marketplaces
Printing barcode labels for shipping and packing
Integrating barcode scanners for warehouse management

You can even scan barcodes during order fulfillment to reduce errors.

Where to Get UPCs for Your Online Store

There’s one easy, affordable, and reliable source:
👉 UPCs.com

At UPCs.com, we sell legitimate, unique UPC barcodes that originate from the GS1 system, without forcing you to pay expensive setup fees or annual renewals.

Unlike GS1, which charges hundreds of dollars per year and locks you into a membership model, UPCs.com gives you:

Instant delivery of barcode numbers and printable images
No renewal fees ever
No hidden charges
Guaranteed uniqueness and compliance with platforms like Amazon, Walmart, and Google

Learn more about how our barcodes work here:
👉 What is a UPC Code?

How Many UPCs Do You Need?

If you’re wondering how many UPCs you need to buy, here’s a quick rule of thumb:

Every unique product variation requires its own barcode.

That means:

1 product with 3 sizes = 3 UPCs
5 different scents of a candle = 5 UPCs
A 2-pack and 6-pack of the same flavor = 2 UPCs

How to Use Your UPCs on Each Platform

🛒 Shopify

Go to your Product > More Options > Edit
Scroll to the Barcode field
Paste your UPC from UPCs.com
Save your product

Shopify will now use your UPC for inventory tracking and sales channel syncing.

🧵 Etsy

Etsy doesn’t require a barcode field, but you can:

Add UPCs in your product descriptions
Use barcode inventory apps to manage stock
Sync your products across Shopify/Etsy using the same UPCs

🧩 WooCommerce

WooCommerce allows barcode fields via product plugins or custom fields:

Install a barcode/inventory plugin (like ATUM or Smart Manager)
Assign each product a UPC from UPCs.com
Use the UPC for fulfillment, scanning, and syncing

You can also print barcode labels and scan them during packing.

For more details, check out:
👉 How to Print Barcode Labels for Your Products

Why Use UPCs.com?

Buying barcodes shouldn’t be complicated. At UPCs.com, we’ve helped over 150,000 customers—from startups to Amazon FBA brands—get the barcodes they need fast, affordably, and reliably.

Why customers love us:

Instant email delivery of UPCs and barcode images
No annual fees or subscriptions
Works with Amazon, Walmart, Google Shopping, and more
Live customer support if you ever get stuck

Plus, we’ve written a comprehensive guide if you’re preparing to sell on Amazon:
👉 How to Use UPC Codes on Amazon in 2025

Final Thoughts

If you sell online and want to look professional, scale to multiple channels, or just stay organized, getting real, valid UPCs is one of the smartest things you can do.

With UPCs.com, there’s no guesswork, no confusing memberships, and no waiting around. You’ll have your UPCs ready to go in minutes—and you’ll own them for life.

Need help choosing the right barcode package?
👉 See Our Pricing

How to Get a Barcode for Your Shopify, Etsy, or WooCommerce Store